Joint Statement by the Ministerial Committee of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park on the opening of the Giriyondo Access Facility (border post) in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, 6 December 2005.
The Giriyondo Tourist Access Facility (border post) that links Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and the Kruger National Park in South Africa in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP), will be operational from the 7th of December 2005. This facility will facilitate tourism flow by providing easier access within the GLTP.
The formal opening ceremony of the facility by the Presidents of Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe will be done early in 2006. When going through this access facility, tourists will be expected to produce valid passports (please note that the visa requirement between South Africa and Mozambique has been waived for all bearers of passports of the two countries for a stay to the maximum of 30 days).
The following general Standard Operational Procedures will be applicable to tourists making use of the Giriyondo Tourist Access Facility:
Operational hours will be as follows:1 April to 30 September: 08:00 to 15:00
1 October to 31 March: 08:00 to 16:00
The roads in the Limpopo National Park part of the GLTP are accessible by 4×4 vehicles only.
No commercial traffic whatsoever is allowed to use the Giriyondo Tourist Access Facility.
No vehicles with an excess of maximum of 4 tonnes axle load are allowed to use the route which leads to the Giriyondo Access Facility.
The GLTP was proclaimed in December 2002, with the signing of the International Treaty in Xai-Xai in Mozambique, by the Presidents of the three countries. It comprises a vast area of the lowland savannah ecosystem, which is bisected by the Lebombo mountains running along the border between South Africa and Mozambique.
The development of this transfrontier conservation area is to foster sustainable ecosystem management, regional socio-economic development and to boost eco-tourism.
Issued on behalf of the GLTP Ministerial Committee.